1
: an object of extreme devotion
a movie idol
also
: ideal sense 2
2
: a representation or symbol of an object of worship
broadly
: a false god
4
: a false conception : fallacy
5
: a form or appearance visible but without substance
an enchanted phantom, a lifeless idol—
P. B. Shelley
P. B. Shelley
Examples of idol in a Sentence
an actor who is the idol of millions
a movie star whose portrayal of a comic book superhero in a blockbuster series has made him the idol of millions
Recent Examples on the Web
After a wild scramble at Tribal Council, Tevin was almost unanimously voted out, with only Andy Griffith alliance partner Hunter McKnight staying true (although Hunter did not tip him off, nor give him his immunity idol).
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2024
Shohei Ohtani pulled even with one of his boyhood idols with a milestone home run in the first inning and added doubles in the fifth and seventh innings to extend a torrid eight-game stretch in which the Dodgers slugger is batting .458 (16 for 35) with four homers, seven doubles and six RBIs.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
In Hollywood, Drew cut her teeth working on productions from alt-comedy idols like André, Nathan Fielder, Tim Robinson, Scott Aukerman, Sacha Baron Cohen and Tim and Eric — largely editing projects that necessitated specific timing to make the offbeat humor hit perfectly.
—William Earl, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
And so did more than a half-century of young male actors who studiously tried to match their idol mumble for mumble and motivation for motivation.
—Ty Burr, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Dusty Booze Imagine an Indiana Jones tale — if the golden idol was a bottle of post-Prohibition bourbon and the role of gigantic, skull-crushing boulder was played by rampaging hipsters on a Pappy Van Winkle hunt.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
When her cancer diagnosis came, in 1973, Darling resigned herself to dying young like her tragic blond idols.
—Mayukh Sen, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2024
Few teen idols have managed the transition to adulthood as successfully as these three brothers.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Shaun appeared in The Hardy Boys Mysteries and achieved pop idol status, later becoming a producer and writer.
—Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 Apr. 2024
Shohei Ohtani pulled even with one of his boyhood idols with a milestone home run in the first inning and added doubles in the fifth and seventh innings to extend a torrid eight-game stretch in which the Dodgers slugger is batting .458 (16 for 35) with four homers, seven doubles and six RBIs.
—Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024
In Hollywood, Drew cut her teeth working on productions from alt-comedy idols like André, Nathan Fielder, Tim Robinson, Scott Aukerman, Sacha Baron Cohen and Tim and Eric — largely editing projects that necessitated specific timing to make the offbeat humor hit perfectly.
—William Earl, Variety, 4 Apr. 2024
And so did more than a half-century of young male actors who studiously tried to match their idol mumble for mumble and motivation for motivation.
—Ty Burr, Washington Post, 3 Apr. 2024
Dusty Booze Imagine an Indiana Jones tale — if the golden idol was a bottle of post-Prohibition bourbon and the role of gigantic, skull-crushing boulder was played by rampaging hipsters on a Pappy Van Winkle hunt.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
When her cancer diagnosis came, in 1973, Darling resigned herself to dying young like her tragic blond idols.
—Mayukh Sen, The Atlantic, 9 Apr. 2024
Few teen idols have managed the transition to adulthood as successfully as these three brothers.
—Ed Masley, The Arizona Republic, 7 Apr. 2024
Shaun appeared in The Hardy Boys Mysteries and achieved pop idol status, later becoming a producer and writer.
—Julie Tremaine, Peoplemag, 6 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'idol.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near idol
Cite this Entry
“Idol.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/idol. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
idol
noun1
: an image worshipped as a god
2
: a greatly loved and admired person or thing
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